Bogotá, Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly accused teh CIA of orchestrating a disinformation campaign against his goverment, alleging the U.S. intelligence agency is the source of a recent report detailing the infiltration of his administration by individuals linked to armed dissident groups.
Petro made the claims via his X (formerly Twitter) account adn in subsequent statements, asserting the CIA provided him with initial information about General Huertas – a figure now at the center of the controversy – but that the details have been deliberately altered in the published report. “It is a way to display foreign power within countries,” Petro wrote on X.
According to Petro, the CIA initially identified a potential connection between General Huertas and an armed group, but a different group than the one currently implicated. He claims his own inquiry revealed the CIA’s initial assessment was inaccurate. “I investigated what happened, and persistent that the CIA’s belief was not accurate,” he stated.
Petro further alleges that a police helicopter, not the Army as previously reported, was present during an operation targeting the ELN, inadvertently alerting the armed group. He insists General Huertas had no connection to the helicopter.
The President also stated he has no information regarding Wilmer Mejía, a National Intelligence Directorate official reportedly acting as a conduit for dissidents.
in a especially pointed accusation, Petro suggested the CIA’s actions are politically motivated, stemming from a desire to discredit his government. “Today, the CIA has reasons to attack my Government…the orders come from your government. I have not wanted to take her out of the country, hoping that the Trump government will react and realize that the reports it receives come from the same drug trafficking seeking to break relations,” he said. He also suggested the scandal is intended to influence upcoming elections, stating, “Some want business, others want to prevent us from winning the elections.”
petro referenced past reporting by Caracol News, claiming it also relied on CIA sources and contained inaccuracies. He concluded by defending his administration and asserting his commitment to uncovering the truth behind the allegations.